- Patch 7.29c, released on April 30th, 2021 has brought some much needed nerfs to heroes considered overpowered by players and pros alike.
- Most notable hero changes are those of Beastmaster, Grimstroke, Dawnbreaker and Puck from which (excluding Dawnbreaker) all of the heroes have remain first pick and ban worthy in pro games
- Amongst slight changes to items, Solar Crest is the only significantly changed item with it getting a minor nerf as it has been deemed a must buy item in the recent patches
Valve released patch 7.29c on April 30th, 2021, and it has brought some balance changes to some items and heroes, mostly nerfs to those which were considered overpowered. After giving 7.29b two weeks, Valve brought in some more changes with the release of patch 7.29c. Patch 7.29c brings more nerfs to heroes like Beastmaster and Grimstroke and yet another nerf to Dawnbreaker. Solar Crest was the only item that was significantly nerfed since its recent buffs caused it to become a must-buy item in almost every match. Here’s a brief look at the heroes and items that got struck by the nerf hammer.
RELATED: The Four Biggest Hero Nerfs in Patch 7.29b
Most nerfed heroes and items in patch 7.29c
Beastmaster
WILD AXES
- Scepter no longer provides bonus damage
INNER BEAST
- Attack speed increased from 10/20/30/40 to 15/25/35/45
TALENTS
- Level 15 Talent increased from +300 Health Beastmaster Controlled to +350
- Level 20 Talent increased from +30 Boar Damage to +35
- Level 20 Talent reduced from -35s Primal Roar Cooldown to -30s
Ever since Beastmaster received buffs to his Aghanims in 7.29, the hero has dominated the game with it becoming a first pick and first ban material in most pro matches and Immortal ranked pubs.
With its Aghanims, his “Wild Axes” ability gained 40 additional damage and reduced mana cost in addition to its cooldown being removed. This made the hero broken since people would just buy Aghanims as a first item and just “Wild Axe” every enemy, including Roshan, to death with no risk. With the 7.29c release, the hero looks like it has finally been balanced. It will be interesting to see if the minimal buffs that the hero received in other areas of its kit will be enough to keep Beastmaster in the meta.
Dawnbreaker
- Agility reduced from 20 + 2.4 to 14 + 1.7
CELESTIAL HAMMER
- Manacost increased from 110 to 110/120/130/140
TALENTS
- Level 10 Talent reduced from +8 Strength to +7
Dawnbreaker, on release, was considered by many to be a weak hero, after which it gained some significant buffs in mini-patches which then made her a bit too good. The hero had its stats and skill numbers improved to a point where it provided too much value in every aspect. This patch also brings a second consecutive nerf to her stat gain and skill numbers. Its level ten talent also got a minor nerf from +8 Strength to +7 Strength. These combined nerfs will reduce the overall value the hero provides to the team and should remove the hero from its “Jack of all trades” pedestal and make Dawnbreaker cater to more specific lineups and strategies.
Grimstroke
INK SWELL
- Movement speed bonus reduced from 12/14/16/18% to 10/12/14/16%
- Stun duration rescaled from 1/1.9/2.8/3.7 to 1.1/1.9/2.7/3.5
TALENTS
- Level 15 Talent reduced from +20% Ink Swell Movement Speed to +16%
Before 7.29, Grimstroke was a decently balanced hero. However, with the changes that 7.29 brought to his spell “Ink Swell” with his Aghanim’s Shard, the hero just provided way too much for very little cost. In a DPC interview, Pro player and veteran Ah-Fu stated that the hero is broken as it just needs an Aether Lens and its shard to provide its full value in fights. In 7.29, with his Shard, his spell “Ink Swell” did 50% more damage and healed the unit for 50% of the damage done during its duration and as if that wasn’t enough, it also hard dispelled the target after its duration. This buff was over the top and made the Shard and ability way too overpowered. 7.29c brings for a second consecutive patch, nerfs to the ability this time instead of the shard in hopes to balance the hero. The nerf to both the Shard and the ability will de-incentivise the hero to be picked every game. The all-round over the top strength it provides will be reduced and players will be picking it in niche situations for example when they need a heavy dispel that the shard provides.
Puck
DREAM COIL
- Cooldown increased from 80/75/70 to 80
- Break damage reduced from 300/400/500 to 200/300/400 (scepter to 300/450/600)
Puck was considered overpowered and downright broken even before patch 7.29. It was hoped that 7.29 would bring significant nerfs to the hero but it, unfortunately, did not. The hero did too much damage and was too elusive and its kit was quite over the top in its damage numbers. It has been nerfed for five consecutive patches in a row now in hopes of balancing it to normal. This time, its ultimate “Dream Coil” had its cooldown and damage nerfed. Dream Coil was maybe the only part of Puck’s kit that remained ‘overpowered’ and this nerf looks like it will make the hero even more balanced and perhaps make players consider other heroes since its teamfight presence is nerfed.
Solar Crest
- Attack speed bonus reduced from 65 to 55
Solar Crest, in 7.29 received a massive 1000 gold reduction in its cost with little to no reduced benefits and hence was a straight up buff to the item. The item has since become a must buy on almost every single lineup. It remained untouched in 7.29b but in 7.29c it has received a small stat change, and the attack speed buff was reduced by ten. This is just a minor nerf. So the item will still likely be very popular but at least players now start looking into other options before no-braining it.
